Tushishvili topples heavyweight powerhouses to triumph with ippon judo

Georgian Guram Tushishvili made light work of a high calibre heavyweight field as he collected his first IJF World Judo Tour medal in sensational fashion. The 22-year-old Junior European champion, who weighed in at 107kg, opposed Düsseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Bor Barna (HUN) in the final and made it four wins by ippon from four contests.

The Georgian, who defeated the top seed and double Olympic bronze medallist Rafael Silva (BRA) in the quarter-final by ippon, has moved up to heavyweight as Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Varlam Liparteliani (GEO) has vacated the U90kg category to compete at U100kg. Fearless Tushishvili scored a waza-ari from a drop seoi-nage and then dispatched the Hungarian with an osoto-gari for the maximum score.

In the first semi-final former Tushishvili bested Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) after 66 seconds by ippon from a drop seoi-nage. In the second semi-final BOR troubled Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Stanislav Bondarenko (UKR) to such an extent that the Ukrainian was penalised three times to receive hansoku-make.

The first bronze medal was won by Bondarenko as former Junior World champion Ulziibayar Duurenbayar (MGL) was inactive for the majority of the contest and received three shidos to be disqualified. Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Ulziibayar, 23, toiled as he struggles to maintain his consistency on the IJF World Judo Tour while Bondarenko was marginally more active.

The second bronze medal went to Odivelas European Open silver medallist Onise Bughadze (GEO) who pipped Kokauri to the podium by a waza-ari score.